Woman phones emergency line to report incorrect discount on her shopping bill

Lucy Moody

Journalist

Northumbria Police is reminding the public to "consider the needs of others when calling 999" after a woman phoned to complain about her shopping.

The warning comes after she called to report that a supermarket didn't apply the correct amount of discount when she bought two bottles of squash.

The caller later confessed that she rang the police because she was unable to get through to customer services.

PA

Chief Supt Neil Hutchison said: “Calls like these might seem harmless and even funny, but they create a huge demand on the staff working in the communications centre who could otherwise be busy dealing with genuine emergencies.

“We hope that the public can work with us so that we can make sure those people unfortunate enough to be involved in serious incidents can receive police assistance as quickly as possible.

“We would also like to make it clear to people who call our emergency lines and waste police time that their behaviour is completely unacceptable.”